Today I am reaffirming my commitment to Surrey Canal Road Station. I have received a letter from the Transport Minister, Theresa Villiers MP, refusing the £7 million Department for Transport contribution that had previously been on the table.

I am extremely disappointed by this outcome. The business case for the station is robust and I am sorry that Department officials and the Minister have taken a different view.

It is not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’ the station will be built and I will continue to work with Lewisham Council, Transport for London and local developers to put forward the case. We now need to look for alternatives to kick-start the building and possibly return to the Department for Transport with another proposal.